As the ignorant problem of racism continues to rear its ugly head across the sports world, FC Barcelona’s Dani Alves decided to take the high road during his club’s 3-2 win over Villareal on Sunday. The Brazilian was setting up to take a corner when some idiot in the stands threw a banana at him, which is clearly an old way that racist morons try to persecute humans of other races. But instead of letting it get to him, Alves took the high road in humorous fashion by peeling and eating the banana in one big bite just before taking the corner.

It’s ironic this happened the same day the Los Angeles Clippers players silently protested team owner Donald Sterling’s racist comments, which have created a wildfire in the NBA. Fortunately, almost everyone of note has come to the defense of the players and Clippers coach Doc Rivers, but that is not the case when it comes to Spanish league soccer games.

Racism has been a problem in the sports world forever, but the things that are being said done in 2014 are astounding, and not in a good way. Former AC Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng walked off the field during a friendly against Italian Lega Pro 2 side Pro Patria in January of 2013 and he blasted Sterling for his racist comments. While this is expected and justifiable, it doesn’t seem to be working.

That’s why Alves’ reaction to the banana was so influential: He used humor to turn the racist persecutors into the butt of a joke by no only eating the banana, but joked on Twitter afterward that his father always told him to eat bananas to prevent cramps. Huge kudos to Alves for being the bigger man and making racism look as foolish as it really is.

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